William Bernard (Bill) Schutzel was born May 10, 1957 and passed away June 30, 2024 at his home in
Kansas City, Missouri of natural causes.
He was born in Kansas City, MO to Emil and Shirley Schutzel and grew up in Prairie Village Kansas. He
graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. He worked as the top chef at
restaurants in Denver, Lawrence, and Leawood before becoming Vice President of Schutzel Building
Company. He was an Eagle Scout with troop 91. Bill’s hobbies included gardening, traveling, playing
bridge, and hanging out with friends. He filled the room with his boisterous personality, making
everyone feel like they were his lifelong friends. He enjoyed introducing others to new adventures and
was generous beyond measure. His family remember him for his smoky shrimp jambalaya, creamy
lobster bisque soup, and his amazing Christmas feasts. He taught our family to always say I love you and
was the master of group hugs.
He is preceded in Death by his Father, Emil Schutzel and is survived by his mother Shirley Schutzel, his
siblings Emil Schutzel (Lynn), Kurt Schutzel (Amy), Elizabeth Speer (Thane), and his nephews and nieces
Emil Schutzel, Matt Schutzel, Emily Schutzel, Kris Schutzel, Anna Ramsaur (Matt), Ian Speer (Megan),
Tom Speer, Garrett Speer, and Kaylee Speer. We wish we had more years to spend with Bill, but he
believed his life was in God’s hands. A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday July 13 at 11am at
Colonial Church, 7039 Mission Road, Prairie Village KS. Lunch Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers
please make donations to Wayside Waifs Animal Shelter in honor of his dearly loved cats Tom, Trixie,
Scruff and Butterscotch.
Bill was the sweet man I’ve meet working at senior care , he truly will be miss, though And prayers to his family
Bill was a kind, compassionate man. I witnessed several acts of kindness for his tenants and for the many stray animals he cared for. My condolences to his brother Emil and to all members of his family and friends.
Susan Haslam
I first met Bill Schutzel in nursery school where we first became friends and then went on to the same first grade class at Highlands Elementary School. At Indian Hills Jr High, we shared a common interest for cooking and entertaining. One day we decided to have a party for friends and serve roast duck. We’d never tried this before and invited six guests, never realizing one duck wouldn’t serve eight people! At Shawnee Mission East, we enjoyed dining out on school lunch hour, often frequenting the Red Bull Mexican Restaurant and once treated ourselves to Jaspers with some other friends (put it on Dad’s expense account there and heard about it later!).
I last saw Bill the summer after high school graduation . My family had already moved to Northport New York on Long Island so I never had a chance to spend my senior year at SME. Bill’s mother was visiting New York so Bill came out on the train to see us. I wish I had known he became a chef. I later went on to write 10 cookbooks and always remembered the childhood passion for good food that we both shared.